Mouthwatering Sweet Potatoes – Cheers to God for giving us such an amazing root vegetable. 🙂

February is National Sweet Potato Month!

By: Vivien Veil

In honour of the sweet potato, I am going to share a very delicious recipe that will make you pay homage to the potato’s distant cousin. Oven baked sweet potatoes make a splendid light meal for anyone watching their waistline.

I rarely ate sweet potatoes growing up. Sweet potatoes only made their appearance once a year during a Thanksgiving feast. However, this root vegetable’s popularity is quickly soaring. Thanks to its marvelous health benefits and taste, chefs and foodies all around the world are churning out tasty sweet potato recipes like butter.

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 400 – 425 degrees F (200 – 220 degrees C). Get a baking sheet and line it with aluminum foil and set aside. Note: You can also use parchment paper. It helps absorb the oil better – making it a healthier way to bake the sweet potatoes.

Place the sweet potatoes in a big bowl and brush with extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil. Make sure you get them evenly coated. Then, add the garlic powder, ground coriander, cumin, onion powder, curry powder, paprika, black pepper, sea salt and chili powder/cayenne pepper. Note: for an even healthier dish, use coconut oil instead of olive oil. Coconut oil is the best oil to cook with as it is stable enough to resist mild heat-induced damage. Plus, it’s good for you!

Rub the spices on the sweet potatoes and distribute evenly. Note: I like wearing thin cooking gloves to prevent my hands from getting dirty.

Place the oiled and spiced up sweet potatoes in a single layer on the lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes on the middle rack until the sweet potatoes are softened. Do not cook them too long or else the sweet potatoes will burn. Transfer the pan to the oven’s top rack and bake for an extra 10 minutes or until wedges are crispy. OR you can finish the last 10 minutes by passing them onto your hubby next time he has the BBQ going. Grilled sweet potatoes taste much better off the grill, especially if you baste them with honey or maple syrup. Note: Keep an eye on the wedges after transferring them to the top rack. Depending on your oven, you may need to take the sweet potato wedges out sooner than 10 minutes. Be a hawk!

Remove from the oven. See below for serving tips. (:

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Food Combining Tip: Strive for proper food combining, especially if you want to prevent bloating, gas and other unwanted intestinal problems. Try not to mix proteins with starches. Your stomach should be gas-free after a meal – plus, you will digest your meals quicker and more efficiently.

Serve sweet potato wedges with lots of raw salad and your favourite dip. I love eating them with sun-dried tomatoes, hummus and guacamole.

NUTRITION

Sweet potatoes provide a healthy dose of complex carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes are a must in any athlete or fitness lover’s diet. They give off a constant stream of energy into the bloodstream and help regulate blood-sugar levels.

Loaded with antioxidants – sweet potatoes will kick fatigue out the door, which makes this a perfect meal before a hard workout.

Ghent, Belgium: a journey to medieval architecture and food wonderland

Vivien Veil gives an enriching cultural guide to the capital of the East Flanders province – where chocolates and beer rule.

By: Vivien Veil

After touring the beautiful historical city of Bruges, a local woman advised me to please visit Ghent. She declared that “Ghent is not to be missed” and that “you will absolutely love the city.” With those words replaying in my ears, I immediately booked a train ticket to Ghent.

Just as I walk into Gent-Dampoort Railway Station, I observe the many locked up bikes ready to rent. Belgians embrace cycling – their love affair with everything bicycles means cycle racing is a very popular sport in Belgium. It’s no wonder Belgian Eddy Merckx is still regarded as the “greatest pro-cyclist” of all time. Cycling is in their blood!

Not long after strolling the charming streets of Ghent – brimming with impeccable medieval buildings, picturesque canals, and excellent public transport service – I soon realise why locals choose walking and cycling over driving.

St Nicholas Church

Thank God I brought a comfortable pair of walking shoes! I can’t imagine touring this fantastic city with heels. Armed with a Ghent travel guide, I’m ready to discover the culinary and cultural delights of Belgium’s best kept secret – GHENT.Belgium’s first industrial city boasts some of the most gorgeous buildings in the world – with Sint-Baafskathedraal (St Bavos Cathedral), the Stadhuis (Town Hall), and the Gothic Sint-Niklaaskerk (St Nicholas’ Church) surrounding the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal.

Ghent is the new Bruges

Yet for all its historic grandeur, elegant theatres, world-class museums, chic boutiques and metropolitan buzz, Ghent is also a cozy city full of village atmosphere. This is the perfect city for wandering. Oh, and of course shopping – thanks to Europe’s largest pedestrianised zone (Mageleinstraat and Koestraat). Just make sure to bring plenty of money!

Well what do you know! A Starbucks!

I kickoff my trek in Korenmarkt, a huge outdoor terrace filled with great places to grab a quick lunch or coffee. This place is a local favourite, especially when the sun makes its appearance. If you’re looking for some American eateries, look no further. Here you’ll find a Starbucks and a McDonald’s. I have yet to find a city that doesn’t contain a McDonald’s.

I stop at the elegant brasserie Establissement Max at the end of the alley. Locals tell me this is the place to dine on Belgian waffles. The super crowded restaurant with impeccably dressed waiters serving waffles and ice cream is definitely a place to visit – even if it’s just for the atmosphere. The food presentation alone makes it a worthwhile destination.

Feast at Max

Approaching Emile Braunplein, I see three of the top 10 sights of Ghent: Sint-Baafskathedraal (St Bavo’s Cathedral), the Belfort, and Sint-Niklaaskerk (St Nicholas Church). The 91-metre-high Belfort is the city’s most eye-catching landmark and an important symbol of Ghent’s independence from the Netherlands. These three medieval landmarks take part on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

After exploring ancient Ghent, I head over to the shopping area deemed the biggest pedestrian-friendly area of Europe. Mageleinstraat and Koestraat sparks my interest as it’s quieter and full of charming delicatessens, stylish fashion, and traditional chocolate shops. I then stroll along the Graslei, one of the most striking places in Ghent’s old city centre. There I see a historic 13th-century building, which houses the high-end restaurant Belga Queen. If you fancy dining on high quality Belgian dishes, Belgian beers, and Belgian wines – reserve a table at Belga Queen. Everything here is locally sourced and the atmosphere is top-notch.

Beautiful Ghent

Ghent is absolutely Belgium’s best kept secret. The blend of Gothic architecture, food, friendly locals, and scenery make it one of my most favourite holiday destinations. If you’re not into chips, waffles and other unhealthy treats – don’t write off Belgium just yet. Ghent is one of the most vegetarian and vegan friendly places in Europe. In fact, they even advertise meat-free Thursdays called Donderdag Veggiedag.

One thing is for certain – Belgium isn’t a cheap country. So, if you’re planning a holiday to Ghent, prepare to pay up.

Brasserie Pakhuis – A walk to the suburbs is quickly paid back by eating at this gorgeous colonial-style home overlooking the River Leie. Exquisite French-Italian cuisine. Their seafood dishes are fantastic. €€€ (Schuurkenstraat 4; #09 223 55 55; www.pakhuis.be)

Exki – The name means “fresh food”. This is a nice place to eat healthy vegetarian and non-vegetarian soups, salads, quiche, sandwiches, and fresh juices. They even serve vegan options. The great location makes it a perfect spot to scope out the gorgeous view of the city centre. €€ (Sint-Michielshelling 2; #329 269 0500; www.exki.be)

Groot Vleeshuis – This affordable eatery is part restaurant/part delicatessen. It’s housed in a medieval butchers’ hall. The relaxed atmosphere makes it a great place to chill out in casual attire. Try their waterzzoi, a delicious fish or chicken Flemish stew. € (Groentenmarkt 7; #09 223 2324; www.grootvleeshuis.be)

Frituur Jozef – A traditional chip stand serving chips (fries) and sauces. Established in 1898, his family continues serving up delicious unhealthy fries to the city’s university students, locals, and tourists. € (Vrijdagmarkt)

Living on Okinawa, you become quickly aware of the fact you are on an island that is only 70 miles long and 7 miles wide. Sometimes you feel the urge to get off, just for the sake of avoiding island fever. So, we booked a trip to Hong Kong for Thanksgiving week with the kids. It was a quick, direct flight from Okinawa (only a little over 2 hours to arrive.) Hong Kong is one of those places that offer something for everyone. There is amazing shopping, local markets, dining and cultural experiences, harbor cruises, breathtaking scenery from high peaks, horse racing, and much more. We had the pleasure of spending four days in Hong Kong with our children during Thanksgiving week and left wishing we had another day or two to explore. With so many options to see in Hong Kong, it was difficult to narrow down our sightseeing choices – especially with kids in tow, you can’t go, go, go until you are no longer able to move your legs!

Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor – ride the Star Ferry across for a great view of the city, architecture, and watch the evening light show over the water. Photograph: Shannon Murphy

While we were checking in at our hotel, we noticed a pamphlet for Lantau Island and the Big Buddha. It looked interesting, and it is definitely one of those sites we probably would never have a chance to see again. The pamphlet had pictures of the Ngong Ping cable car ride high above the waters of Tung Chung Bay, photos of the amazing Buddha statue, the beautiful temple of the Po Lin Monastery, and wonderful scenic views from Lantau Island. So, we decided to forego Hong Kong’s Disneyland and instead go see the Big Buddha. Telling you it was a good choice is a BIG understatement. Big Buddha would be smiling upon us after all.

We were staying on Kowloon Island, approximately a 30 minute metro ride from the Tung Chung Station where we would then transfer onto the Ngong Ping cable car. The cable car ride was 25 minutes, high above the waters of Tung Chung. If you are scared of heights, don’t worry because there is a 40-minute ferry ride option. The views from the cable car were amazing, so I would recommend it over the ferry ride if you can stomach the height. Once we arrived, we had to walk through a village built especially to entice tourists to spend money. It even had a Starbucks and a Subway… what?! A quick stop for a chai tea latte to warm up and we were back on our path to see the Buddha.

The cable car ride from Tung Chung Station to Lantau Island. It was a chilly, rainy day, but that didn’t stop us from going on our journey. Photograph: Shannon Murphy

The Buddha is only 20 years old, built in 1993. It took 12 years to complete the statue. The project cost $60 million Hong Kong dollars. Its official name is Tian Tan Buddha, but more commonly referred to as Big Buddha. It is 34 meters tall, weighs 250 tons, and faces north to look over the Chinese people. You do not have to practice Buddhism to appreciate this popular sight. It costs nothing to climb to the top. You can be face to face with the statue in 268 steps (quite a workout!), but it was an amazing experience to stand below it and be in awe of its grandeur and massive size. His right hand is raised to deliver a blessing to all. Once at the top, you will find amazing scenery of Hong Kong’s many islands, mountains and sea.

View of the Big Buddha from the tourist village. Photograph: Shannon Murphy

Up close with the Big Buddha, from the top of the steps. Photograph: Shannon Murphy

The Po Lin Monastery sits below the statue, across a plaza. The monastery was originally built in 1924 as a small temple, but additional buildings have been added over the years. While we were there, we could hear the Buddhist monks chanting melodies. You could walk up the steps and see them in the hall on bent knees. No pictures were allowed. There are amazing gardens surrounding the monastery, and you can smell incense burning, as a sign of offering. It also is believed that burning incense purifies the atmosphere and reminds us to purify our minds.

My 6-year-old still talks about our Hong Kong trip often. He remembers how many steps it took to get to the top (he counted!) Experiences like these make me so proud. Knowing I’m instilling an awareness of different cultures, languages, and sights in my two children. Even if you are not able to leave your city and go explore another culture, go check out some books at a library. Yes, physically walk in there and touch real books, flip pages together, and talk about what you see. If you have a chance to see Hong Kong, don’t miss the Big Buddha. He’ll be there waiting for you with his gentle smile and sign of peace.

Po Lin Monastery. Photograph: Shannon Murphy

Other Interesting Hong Kong Facts

According to the World Bank, the 2011 population of Hong Kong was 7,071,600.

Hong Kong is made up of 235 islands, with a land mass of 1,104 km2 (426 sq mi.) It has an amazing transportation infrastructure to assist its residents and tourists to get from island to island.

Hong Kong was under British colonial rule for more than 150 years. This ended in 1997 when China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. Hong Kong is called a Special Administration Region of China.

Although Hong Kong is ruled by China, it is a separate customs territory and economic entity, making it possible to enter into its own international agreements regarding commercial and economic matters.

Hong Kong is the birthplace of many famous people, however, many Westerners would be most familiar with Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. They even have an Avenue of Stars, modeled after Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in California. You can find the stars for both Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan on the Avenue, as well as 100 other stars.